Inking device for marking machines



June 22, 1948. M. E. WELLS 2,443,939

INKING DEVICE FOR MARKING MACHINES Filed gul 1a, 1945 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Wacky.

' E Mmo'n/ Wan T i- (150mm & 3

ATTOR N EYS June 22, 1948. M. E, WELLS 2,443,939

INKING DEVICE FOR MARKING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MYRON E. WELLS,

ATTORNEYS.

June 22, 1948. M. E. WELLS 2,443,939

' INKI NG DEVICE FOR MARKING MACHINES Filed July 1:5, 194s 4 Sheets-She et s INVENTOR Mmon/ E Ill 41.:

T ks; (EM 8 3M-W v ATTORNEYS June 22,1948. E, WELLS 2,443,939

' INKING DEVICE FOR MARKING MAGHINES Filed July.13, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I iNVENTOR 1 Alma v IV4L6 ATTO R N EYS Patented June 22, 1948 INKING DEVICE FOR MARKING MACHINES Myron E. Wells, Denver, 0010., assignor to Philip N. Braun Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 13, 1945, Serial No. 604,824

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to inking mechanism for inking the type at the printing line of printing machines, and has for its object an inking mechanism wherein a transfer ink pad, which is movable into and out of engagement with the type at the printing line, is initially or normally in contact with an ink supply or an ink supply pad, and which is movable during the printing operatlon (as during the operation of a movable hammer or platen toward printing position, wherein it presses a material against the inked type at the printing line) from its starting position, into engagement with the type at the printing line to apply ink thereto, and back into engagement with the supply pad while the platen or hammer is moving into printing position but before it reaches printing position, so that the ink transfer pad is in contact only momentarily with the type when applying ink thereto and at all other times, except when moving into and out of ink applying position is engaged with the ink well or supply pad, preventing evaporation of ink from itself andfrom the supply pad.

The invention further has for its object a particularly compact unitary construction of the inking mechanism, which may be applied to the printing machine, as a unit, and also by which the working parts are exposed or easily accessible for lubrication, inspection, adjustment, renewing ink, etc. without removing any part thereof.

The invention further has for its object a printing mechanism in which the amount of pressure applied by the transfer pad to the type may be positively adjusted to a predetermined amount or an inking mechanism in which theamount of pressure so applied is that of a spring embodied in the operating mechanism andthrough which the operating motion or pressure is applied.

The invention further has for its object inking mechanism which is particularly simple, economical, unitary and compact in construction.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and side elevations of one type of printing machine embodying this invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the printing machine showing the printing mechanism and coacting parts in normal or starting position.

2 Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure showing inking mechanism and co-operating parts in their positions assumed at an intermediate part of the printing operation, and at the end of the printing operation or just when the printing occurs.

Figures 6 and 7 are front elevations of the inking mechanism showing the same in starting position (Figure 6) and in the position assumed when the ink transfer pad is against the type at the printing line (Figure 7) the contiguous portion of the supporting mechanism and the contiguous portion of the type wheels being also shown.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary side elevations of the inking mechanism showing respectively the movable parts thereof in starting position; about one-quarter toward inking position; about three-quarters toward inking position, and in full inking position where the transfer pad is pressed against the type wheels.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary expanded view of the inking mechanism.

The invention comprises a unitary inking mechanism which may be readily applied to, and removed from, a printing machine, and including an ink supply, as a pad or other absorbent material capable of holding a relatively large supply of ink, a transfer pad and carrier therefor normally engaged with the supply pad to cover the same and avoid rapid absorption of ink from both itself and the supply pad, and movable into a position where it presses against the type on the type members or wheels of the printing machine to apply or transfer ink thereto preliminary to the printing operation, a platen or other carrier for the material to be printed mov able into and out of coaction with the type at the printing line, and motion transmitting means operated by the movable printing member or platen for operating the inking mechanism to shift the transfer pad from its normal position into inking position against the type and back to normal or starting position against the supply pad, while, the platen is carrying the material to be printed from starting position up to the type at the printing line.

The invention is here shown as applied to a printing machine embodying type wheels and is particularly adapted for printing mechanism for marking pieces of laundry with identifying characters. The printing mechanism per se forms no part of the invention. It is pertinent to the invention, only in so far as the correlation of the operation of the printing mechanism and the inking mechanism is concerned.

I designates the type members or wheels, they being here shown as mounted upon a shaft 2 in a case 3, the wheels having pins or handles extending radially from their peripheries through slots (Figure 1 in the peripheral wall of the case 3, by means of which the Wheels are set to bring predetermined type characters to the printing line. The printing mechanism further includes a platen is movable toward and from the printing line, the platen being here shown as a pad, usually of rubber, carried by a transverse head I mounted on the movable carrier, as an arm 8, having a, hub 9 pivotally mounted on a shaft ll] suitably journalled in the frame or case 3 of the machine. The head i constitutes a double handle, by means of which the operator moves the platen toward and from the type wheels. Also, at the same time, the operator, using both hands, holds the material to be printed, as a piece of laundry, etc. with a portion thereof stretched fairly tight across the platen a, so that when the operator moves the platen carrier 3 toward and from the printing line, the material to be printed is also carried into and out of printing position to receive the impression of the inked type'at the printing line.

H designates the ink supply, this being a pad or wick extending into a container it, the wick extending out of the container upwardly above the upper side thereof. A suitable lid I3 is provided for the top of the container, this lid being easily operable, as by a handle l9, for permitting ink to be applied to the pad II, that is, by filling the ink into the container, so that it will be absorbed b the pad. Enough ink is applied so that the pad is saturated and hence Will have absorbed therein ink supply to last two or three days, dependent upon the number of articles printed.

l4 designates the ink transfer pad, this being mounted on a swinging carrier or lever structure l5 normally arranged, as seen in Figure 8, in which it extends downwardly from its axis about which it swings with the transfer pad it against the ink supply pad I I. The carrier or lever structure swings upward from the position shown in Figures 9 and 10 into inking position shown in Figures 4. 7 and 11 and in the reverse direction into starting position. The inktransfer pad or its carrier [5 is operated by motion transmitting means operated by the platen carrier or arm a and moves through its entire cycle of movement during the movement of the platen carrier from starting position toward but short of printing position. 'This motion transmitting mechanism comprises a motion transmitting part as a rock arm l6 mounted on the hub e, a latching pull link i! coacting with the rock am; it; and connected to a Vertically movable carrier 20, as to a bracket I8 on the container !2 or the vertically movable carrier Zll therefor, and motion transmitting elements, as cams 21, for transmitting the motion to the carrier or lever structure 15 for the transfer pad It. The pull link 11 is connected to the bracket is through a spring, the loading of which may be adjusted. The spring is so located that the pressure is applied by the ink transfer pad to the type, through, and determined by, the spring or the amount the spring is loaded, all regardless ,of the force applied to the handle I by the operator. The pressure applied controls the amount of ink squeezed from the transfer pad.

The pressure applied to the actuator or lever 38 is transferred to the transfer pad against the type at the printing line through the spring 25. This spring is tensioned to overrule the returning spring 32 for the reciprocating carriage 20 when the actuator 8 is actuating but it is also adjusted so as to yield at a predetermined point during the actuation of the lever 8 aft'er'the transfer pad encounters the type at the printing line, so that the force with which the pad is pressed against the type is that of the spring. The loadin g cf the s ring 25 is adjusted by means of the nut 21.

As here illustrated, the pull latch l! is formed with a notchzg which receives a latch pin 23 on the rock arm it. It is formed with a stud 24 extending through a lug 25 on the bracket l8. A spring 2c encircles the stud and thrusts at-its lower end against thelug 25 and its upper end against adjusting nuts Zithreading on the stlld a ainst the spring or an interposed washer. Theload n or compression of the spring may be adjusted by the nuts 2?, and hence the amount of pressure applied by the transfer pad to the type cor sp din ly adju The transfer pad M is usually rubber with a facing oi felt. It is pivotally mounted on its carrier or lever structure It by a rod or pin 28. Its pivotal movement is controlled or ordered to maintain the transfer pad in substantially hori- ZQiltal position during the movement of the carrier or lever structure from starting position (Figure 5 or 8) into final inking position (Figures 4 and 7'), by a guide rod 29 fixed thereto and slidable through a block 30 swivelled to the case 3. Thexrnck arm is is provided with a knock-off pin 3| arranged to engage the pull link latch and'trip the same on the pin 23, when the printing platen or hammer has moved part way from starting position (Figure 3) to an intermediate position (Figure 4). The tripping of the latch permits theparts of the inking mechanism to return to their normal or starting positions under the influence of a returning spring 32, and also permits the spring 25 to return to its original compression loading. It will be understood that this spring 26 is further compressed during the movement of the latch I! from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4.

The various carriers 22! and I5 and also the major support or frame 33 are double or U- shaped. Also, the rock arm it is bifurcated with the latch I! extending between the bifurcations. A cam 2| is pivoted at 34 to each arm of the carrier 20. The arms of the carrier 28 are formed with lengthwise or upright slots 35 see Figures 8 to 12 inclusive) through which a pivot rod 36 of the carrier orlever structure 55 extends. The rod 36 is fixed at its ends in the stationary frame .53. The cams 2! serve to transfer the vertical movement of the supply pad carrier 20 to the transfer pad carrier 15 and to translate it into a pivotal movement during the swinging movement. Each cam 2! is formed with a crank pin 31 which works in a lengthwise slot 38 in one of the arms of the transfer ink pad carrier 1 5.

During the movement of the platen carrier or arm 8 frem starting position toward printing position, the latch pull link H is pulled downwardly into the position shown in Figure 4 and during this movement, the spring 25 is additionally loaded and also the carriage 23 pulled downwardly, first into, the position shown in Figure 9., movin the earns 21 therewith downwardly, causing the stationary rod 86, which extends through the angular or cam slot 39 in the cam to tilt the cam about its pivot 34 and in so doing, actuate the transferink pad carrier l5 through the pin-and-slot connection'tl, 38. The guide rod 29 holds the transfer pad substantially hori zontal. During further movement, the angularity of the carrier i5 is further changed due to the rocking of the cams 2! about the pivot 3Q, moving the cam slots along the rod 36. These movements are brought about due to the downward movement of the carrier 2i] under the action of the pull link. latch l1 against the action of the spring 32. The knock-off pin 3! then engages the latch I! and trips it. Just prior to tripping it, however, the movement of the motion transmitting part or rock arm it under the infiuence of the platencarrying arm 8 further compresses the spring 26, so that the ink transfer pad is pressed against the type with a force determined by the loadingof the spring 25. When the platen 6 reaches the position shown in Figure the knockoff pin 3! trips the latch, the spring 52 re-acts to return the movable parts of the inking mechanism to starting position, just prior to the time that the platen 6 and its carrier or arm 3 reaches the position shown in Figure 5. The operation of the latch Il is against the action of a suitable returning spring tii. The spring 60 is anchored at one end to a suitable stationary point of the main frame 3 of the machine and at its other end to the latch ll.

This inking mechanism including the transfer ink pad, its carrier l5, the carrier 29, the frame 33, the supply ink pad, and the pull link latch l! constitute a unitary structure carried by a bar 4| which is suitably detachably secured to the case 3, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and which may be easily removed and replaced, as a unit. In removing and replacing the frame 33 and parts carried therein, the guide it easily and readily detaches from the swivel block 355 and the latch l'l readily slidably detaches from the arm l6 by unloosening one end or the other of the spring 40.

What I claim is:

1. An inking mechanism for inking the type on type wheels of a printing machine embodying a movable platen carrying member operable to press the material to be printed against the inked type at the printing line, the inking mechanism including a frame, a carrier movable reciprocally along the frame, a transverse stationary pin carried by the frame, the carrier having a lengthwise slot through which the pin extends, an ink supply pad mounted on the carrier and movable reciprocally therewith, an ink transfer pad, a carrier lever therefor pivoted on the pin and having a rocking movement relatively thereto, the transfer pad being normally engaged with the supply pad, and the carrier lever being movable about the pivot pin to swing the transfer pad from its normal starting position into and out of contact with the type, motion transmitting connec tions between the first carrier and the carrier lever to transmit the reciprocating movement of the first carrier in one direction to the carrier lever to move the carrier lever about its pivot, the platen carrying member serving an actuator for the first carrier to reciprocate it, and a coupling between the actuator and the first carrier to transmit motion to the first carrier during the movement of the platen in one direction toward the type, the coupling including a releasable latch, an arm actuated by the actuator and normally engaged with the latch, and a knock- 'off device on the arm located to unlatch the latch before the platen reaches printingcontact with the type, and a spring between the frame and the front carrier to shift the same in the opposite direction.

2. An inking mechanism for inking the type on type wheels of a printing machine embodying a movable platen carrying member operable to press the material to be printed against the inked type at the printing line, the inking mechanism including a frame, a carrier movable reciprocally along the frame, a transverse stationary pin carried by the frame, the carrier having a lengthwise slot through which the pin extends, an ink supply pad mounted on the carrier and movable reciprocally therewith, an ink transfer pad, a carrier lever therefor pivoted on the pin and having a rocking movement relatively thereto, the transfer pad being normally engaged with the supply pad, and the carrier lever being movable about the pivot pin to swing the transfer pad from its normal starting position into and out of contact with the type, motion transmitting connections between the first carrier and the carrier lever to transmit the reciprocating movement of the first carrier in one direction to the carrier lever to move the carrier lever about its pivot, the platen carrying member serving as an actuator for the first carrier to reciprocate it, and a coupling between the actuator and the first carrier to transmit motion to the first carrier during the movement of the platen in one direction toward the type, the coupling including a releasable latch, an arm actuated by the actuator and normally engaged with the latch, and a knock-off device on the arm located to unlatch the latch before the platen reaches printing contact with the type, and a spring between the frame and the front carrier to shift the same in the opposite direction, the coupling also including a spring located between the latch and the first carrier through which the motion of the latch by the actuator is transmitted to the first carrier, and to yield during continued movement of the actuator before the knock-off device releases the latch.

3. An inking mechanism for inking the type on type wheels of a printing machine embodying a movable platen carrying member operable to press the material to be printed against the inked type at the printing line, the inking mechanism including a frame, a carrier movable reciprocally along the frame, a transverse stationary pin carried by the frame, the carrier having a lengthwise slot through which the pin extends, an ink supply pad mounted on the carrier and movable reciprocally therewith, an ink transfer pad, a carrier lever therefor pivoted on the pin and having a rocking movement relatively thereto, the transfer pad being normally engaged with the supply pad, and the carrier lever being movable about the pivot pin to swing the transfer pad from its normal starting position into and out of contact with the type, a rocking cam pivotally mounted on the first carriage and having a cam slot through which the stationary pin extends, and a crank pin working in a lengthwise slot in the carrrier lever to transmit the rocking movement of the cam to the carrier lever during the reciprocating movement of the first carrier, and a coupling between the platen carrying member including an arm movable with the platen carrying member, a releasable latch on the first carrier and coacting with a shoulder on the arm, a knock-off device on the arm located to engage and release the latch during an. intermediate portion of the platen aesaeee carrying member from starting position, and a spring acting on the first carrier to return the first carrier to starting position when the latch :is released.

4. An inking mechanism for inking the type of type wheels of :a printing machine embodying a movable platen carrying member having :a :back

and 'forth'movemen-t relative to the printing line of the type Wheels to carry the work against and away from the inked type; the inking mechanism comprising a frame individual to the inking mechanism, a reciprocating carrier supported by the frame and movable tangentially relative to the printing-wheels, an inking pad, and a carrier lever therefor pivoted to the frame and operat- 1 ing to transfer the padinto and. out :of position to ink the type, .motion transmitting means supported by the ,frame for transmitting the reciprocating movement of the first carrier to the carrier lever, and motion transmitting connections between the platen carrying member and the first carrier to actuate the first carrier in one direc- 13101121113011 movement of the platen carrying member toward the type including .a normally latched 8 releasable latch, a knock-01f device located to release the latch during an intermediate portion of the movement of the platen carrying member toward the type, and a return spring acting on the .first carrier to shift it .in the opposite direction when the latch is released.

MYRON E.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of "record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

